Culture

1
Culture

• The knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values of a
  group of people.

2
Basic Needs

• No matter where you live on the earth, there are
  Basic Needs that must be meet

1. Food

B. Shelter
C. Clothing
3
Stages of Life in Every Culture

• All cultures also experience changes amongst the
  people that live there

Childhood
Birth
Death
Old Age
Adulthood
4
Cultural Differences in Customs
Manners Gestures mean different things around
the world
Marriage
Celebrations
Ceremonies Honoring the Dead
5
Institutions that exist in most cultures
Family
School
Government
Economic Systems
Religion
6
Causes of Cultural Change
Change in the Physical Environment
Contact between cultures
Technology
7
Where we learn about our own culture
Family
Friends
Community
Media
Be able to tell what you learn from each
8

• Where we learn about other cultures
• Interacting with members of different ethnic
  groups
• Studying the Social Sciences
• 1.) Geography
• Five Themes of Geography
• A. Location - Where is it?
• B. Place What is it like there?
• C. Human-Environment Interaction What is
  the relationship between
• people and their environment?
• D. Movement How do People/Product/Ideas move
  from place to place?
• E. Regions
• 2.) History
• 3.) Economics
• 4.) Political Sciences

(Be able to tell what each of these teaches about
culture.)
9
Cultural Differences

• Gestures Around the World

10
Gestures Around the World
11
This might mean "OK" in the United States, but it
means "money" in Japan, an obscenity in Brazil
and the Evil Eye in Saudi Arabia
12
The "V" for victory that Winston Churchill used
(with the palm facing outward, same as the
American sign for "peace"), means an obscenity
when the palm is reversed in the U.K. or in some
Latin American countries
OOPS!!!
13
Sometimes Even Presidents Use Gestures
Inappropriately
OOPS!!
14

• This is a unique gesture from Ethiopia.
• It means revenge.

15
This is probably not a good way to hitch a ride
in Iran. It is a gesture for cursing in Iran.
16
This action done near the head means crazy in
China.
17

• Greetings Around the World
• Some people shake hands, some kiss and hug.
• Others just say hello.
• These exchanges are common in the U.S., but how
  do people in other countries greet each other?
• In most of Europe, a handshake will do.

18
A Few Ways to Say Hello in Asia
Country Gesture
China a nod or bow
Hong Kong (older Chinese) clasp hands together at throat level and nod
India palms together as though praying and bend or nod, called namaste
Indonesia say selamat, which means peace
Japan bow from the waist, palms on thighs, heels together
Korea a slight bow and handshake (right hand in one or both hands)
Malaysia both hands touch other person's hands, then are brought back to the breast, called salame gesture
Philippines a limp handshake
Sri Lanka place palms together under chin and bow slightly
Thailand place palms together, elbows down, and bow head slightly, called wai